School has begun, there’s a chill in the evening air, and Halloween is around the corner. All that can only mean one thing: It’s time to announce the complete details of our annual Fall Mini Sessions! Read More

At the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, I, like other people, look back at the past and toward the future. I look at my successes and my failures, and the goals I set for myself. What did I accomplish? What did I not accomplish? How did I accomplish those things I thought would never happen?Read More

Christmas is only (gulp) 9 days away. It’s too late to order most customized photo gifts without paying an arm and a leg in rushing fees, so it might just be time to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

I also have one special DIY project to share. My oldest sister is the unofficial photographer and archivist in my family, and she has made many beautiful photo presents over the years. One of my favorites is a translucent Christmas tree ornament featuring a treasured photo of my maternal grandparents:

This week we’ll highlight four fun gift ideas that help you display your photos in unusual ways.

1. Stick them up. Looking for a sleek way to put pictures on a special someone’s wall? Have them printed as satin-finish decals you can literally stick right on to any smooth surface. Pinhole Press offers various shapes and sizes, starting at $12.99 for a set of 12 3.42″ x 3.42″ square photos and going up to $29.99 for a set of 3 11″ x 17″ photos.

3. Go metal. To elevate a photo to a modern work of art, consider the frameless metal prints offered by Tiny Prints. Starting at $79.99, these sleek and stylish prints will add a bit of shine to any wall. Adding text is a cool way to personalize the gift even more. And don’t forget to use our exclusive Tiny Prints code for 40 percent off of your total order through December 10. Click here for more details.

4. Stick them up (again). For the loyal Fun Photo Finds readers out there (all tens and ones of you), you may recall one of our earliest blog entries featured Sticky9. This UK-based company turns your Instagrams and other photos into magnets and various other stick-i-fied gifts. And if you have a friend or loved one who keeps their Instagram account public, you can access their photos for super-secret surprise gifting as well. Follow this link for their personalized Christmas gift suggestions, including their classic set of 9 square photo magnets starting at $14.99.

This week we’ll take a quick look at some holiday gifts that feature photos in places you might not expect.

Create a custom pair of sneakers with a new app from Adidas.

1. Your feet: Now you can buy a pair of Adidas ZX FLUX sneakers customized with a photo you snapped yourself. As long as it’s not a copyrighted image, the sky is the limit for what pics you can put on these puppies. A city skyline? A great meal? Your beloved pooch? The sneakers just became available in the U.S. on November 11, so these custom kicks would be a cutting edge present for the super stylish set. To get started, download the miZX FLUX app for iPhones, iPads and Android. Sneakers start at $110. Orders take 4-6 weeks so that means you better move to get them in time for the holidays!Read More

I hate to break it to you, but the holiday season is fast approaching. Photos have long been a favorite gift of mine – both for giving and receiving. The trick with photo gifts, though, is to plan ahead. Allowing ample turnaround time is key. Here are three sites worth knowing about to help you find that perfect, unique photo present. Just remember: Place your orders in plenty of time – no last-minute miracles here!

1. Tiny Prints. Diane French Photography is happy to offer our own Tiny Prints storefront site for your holiday shopping. Through our partnership, we are able to pass along exclusive deals to our clients (see below!). Keep an eye on our Facebook page where we post the latest sales!

You might already know that Tiny Prints has tons of beautiful holiday cards (for which we have a current deal of 10 Free Cards through November 12!). But did you also know they offer a ton of personalized photo gifts? Christmas ornaments, magnets, smartphone and tablet cases, mugs and planners! Good stuff! New for this year are Christmas stockings!

2.Pinhole Press. This company’s tagline is “beautifully simple photo gifts.” The range of items here is impressive, from fun kid-centered gifts like a big storybook of names & faces for babies to your own personalized memory match game, to fun grown-up stuff like personalized wine labels and coasters. New this year are personalized gift boxes featuring a combination of photo gifts and goods for gourmands, babies and more. There truly is something for everyone on your list here – have fun exploring!

3.Photojojo. This site is all about gifts for photographers, professionals and amateurs alike. The gifts range from useful (like special lenses to attach to any smartphone camera and a printer for your phone photos) to whimsical (a Canon Camera Lens Mug, for example), but if there is a shutterbug in your life, this is the place to find them something they’ll appreciate. And if you’re thinking about going BIG (and I do mean big) for that shutterbug’s present this year, Photojojo has a link that allows you to buy one of everything on their site. I love the personality that comes through on this page alone – the people running this site are clearly having a good time!

Hope these three sites get your holiday shopping off on the right foot! And remember, you can always look back at our previous Fun Photo Finds on our blog or via Pinterest for more fun gift ideas!

Fun Photo Finds is an occasional series featuring quirky and inspired photo gifts, gadgets, apps and more. Have a suggestion? Email it to katy@dianefrenchphoto.com.

Looking for someone to help make wonderful memories and tell your story…

There is something magical when you board that old steam train and take a ride to the North Pole. You drink your hot coco, eat your cookies, all while singing christmas carols. The energy and excitement builds because the big guy in his red suit is on this very train and wanting to talk you! Are you on the naughty or nice list? Will Santa really come by? Oh the joy of being so young. We should all be so lucky.

This day will forever be in my memory. Not just because we had an amazing trip with our boys and friends, but because of another tragic reason. While driving an hour an a half to bring our children on this magical journey, where we in our little safe bubble. The outside world was quiet. Then I happened to check Facbook. That’s when we heard the chilling new about Sandy Hook Elementary. We turn off the music and put on the news. My husband and I were in disbelief. I cried while my boys slept safe in their seats. My husband kept driving as we questioned all the decisions to come on how to keep our children safe.

I honestly didn’t know how to address this, to acknowledge this in a public forum or not. But how can you not reposed to such horror. It’s all over the place, and people are sharing the stories of the victims they don’t know. We as a nation are are grieving for these families. Crying over strangers. We still have a heart.

As a mother, a friend, wife, daughter and human being my heat is breaking for these families. There is nothing I can say or do to ease their pain. To take away their grief. I wish I could. All I can do is hold my children tighter and make as much magic for them in these young years as I can. To create memories that will last a lifetime for all of us. To document their joy so they remember this day as one of childhood wonder.

I share these with you to help me. I know it’s selfish, but when I look at their smiles and happiness, it make me feel so lucky and privileged to be their mom, their friend, their first love. To remind me to make more time for them, because they are what is important in this world.

Tiny Prints Sitewide Sale 25% off Any OrderWhat: Save 25% sitewide at Tiny Prints using the code DEC25 at checkout.When: Sunday. Offer expires 12/9/12 at 11:59 pm (PT).PromoCode: DEC25Legalese: Save 25% off all orders using the code DEC25 at checkout. There is no minimum purchase required for this promotion. This offer cannot be combined with other offers. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of Erin Condren weekly planners/life planners, William Arthur holiday cards, greeting cards, gift cards, gift certificates, calendars or photo books. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time. Offer expires 12/9/12 at 11:59 pm (PT).

Free Shipping with Any Tiny Prints Order of $49 or more – Limited Time OnlyWhen: Limited time only, at least through this weekend, probably through 12/14(but don’t quote me on that)PromoCode: HOLFSLegalese: Enjoy Free Standard Delivery with your order of $49 or more using the code HOLFS at checkout. Shipping offer applies to non-sample orders shipped to a location within the 48 contiguous United States. Shipping offer applies to Standard Shipping rates only. Merchandise must total $49 or more, before taxes, rush processing, proofs, shipping and other charges for promotion to apply. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of greeting cards, photo books, calendars, gift cards or gift certificates. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time. Offer is valid for a limited time only.

This year here in NY/NJ, Halloween was vey bittersweet. As you know Hurricane Sandy has devastated much of the tristate area. Though we and our families were very lucky, so many weren’t. Now I’m sitting here as we weather the Nor’ easter that is dumping it’s snow on us. I haven’t been in much of a mood to celebrate anything. Watching news footage of my home town in Long Island under water, my favorite places washing away with the tide, Staten Island drowning, Breezy Point burning, the Jersey Shore disappearing, as well as so many other places has left me very sullen but thankful. I’ve spent the last week scouring my house for anything I could donate. Even my 4 year old picked out toys to give away. I’ve been trying to find organizations to donate my time and talent too.

Through all this, it’s been hard to take out my camera and be me. To capture those giggles and smiles. I haven’t wanted to edit much either because I feel guilty about our good luck. But I did bring it with me on Halloween. Yes we got to go out and trick or treat. We were one of the few neighborhoods that had power and little damage (lucky). We were able to get out there for the kids. Friends joined us from Westchester who were without power or a safe place to trick or treat. We had a good time in that hour before my husband had to go to work and deal with the mess that was left. Later others came over for pizza and fun. Children really can make you smile even when you don’t think you have it in you.

I didn’t take many photos as my little guy was a speed demon (well dragon), and was a lot to handle, but I got a few. My older one was Heatwave, a Rescue Bot (the preschool version of Transformers). Just looking at their smiles here make me so grateful to have my family, wonderful friends and my home.

I’m not normally a fan of Valentine’s day, whether in a relationship or not. Now since I have kids, I’m starting to enjoy it more. This year has to be the best. The morning was spent with the kids and eating tons of sweets (not the norm in this house). Then my hubby and I got to have an afternoon date! We went to the movies which we never do. We saw The Vow. We came out on such a love high. Then we went out for coffee. It may seem strange to go out in the middle of the day but we have unconventional schedules, so when we had the opportunity to go out we did.

With our impromptu date I didn’t get to take all the photos that I wanted today, but snapped a few of my “Little Casanova” He’s getting to be quite the little model.

Diane French Photography

Professional Headshot Portraits & Business Branding Photography Services. Located in Pearl River, NY and servicing Rockland County NY, Bergen County NJ Westchester County NY and New York Tri State area.

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